Pacoima man pleads not guilty in screwdriver attack on girlfriend in Sylmar

A Pacoima man suspected of breaking into his girlfriend's Sylmar home and stabbing her with a screwdriver pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder, according to officials.

Francisco Solis, 51, is also charged with first-degree burglary with a person present and one count of criminal threats in the Sunday morning attack in which he stabbed the woman multiple times in the home in the 12800 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Solis fled and evaded a police manhunt, but turned himself in to authorities 12 hours later.

The victim underwent surgery and was expected to recover, according to police.

Solis was previously convicted of one count of assault with a deadly weapon in 1985, two counts of burglary in 1995 and possession of a controlled substance in 1998.